Chapter 1852: 万花林

"As expected of the Tianzong's most renowned Female God of Slaughter. I thought you'd be as foolish as that naive boy, blindly following the other two into the core of the Lost Mountain Range. Once you enter that area, there's no way out. It seems you're much smarter than him. However, it appears it's too late now. You alone certainly can't defeat both of us simultaneously."

As these words were spoken, the illusory figure, which had resembled Xu Yang, suddenly vanished, replaced by a middle-aged woman in a long pink dress.

The woman wore no makeup, yet the graceful aura she exuded with every subtle expression still astonished Po Xiao, who had just seen through the entire deceptive illusion.

Based on Po Xiao's unique female intuition, if this middle-aged woman were to appear in the imperial palace, Po Xiao would undoubtedly assume her to be the empress, reigning supreme.

Indeed, this woman possessed a unique temperament truly unmatched by ordinary women. She smiled and slowly walked closer to Po Xiao.

However, Po Xiao quickly realized that as she met the woman's gaze, she had no desire to move at all. It seemed this woman possessed a soul-capturing charm, which wasn't the result of any mental cultivation technique.

Po Xiao couldn't even detect the slightest fluctuation of martial arts aura from this woman. It was precisely because of this that Po Xiao did not immediately exercise enough caution, and now it seemed she had fallen into an enchanting dream woven for her by this mysterious middle-aged woman.

"Who exactly are you? I have a feeling your identity is far from ordinary. But if you truly possess the special status I imagine, why are you here in the Lost Mountain Range? Your temperament simply doesn't align with a forbidden zone like this. Who are you?"

Po Xiao instinctively clenched her fists, as it was the only act of resistance she was currently capable of.

However, she quickly discovered that she couldn't activate any of her martial arts essence. She felt as though she had been given a powerful muscle relaxant, sinking limply into the middle-aged woman's embrace.

"Don't be nervous; I won't hurt you. In fact, you're far luckier than your naive companion, because you met me. My presence here is indeed due to a special mission of my own. I need to use your presence to verify whether the truly powerful man who is about to arrive here has the same weaknesses deep within his heart as other men."

As the middle-aged woman spoke, Po Xiao immediately understood her true intention: she wanted to use Po Xiao as bait to create more trouble for Xu Yang.

Although Po Xiao knew very well that, given Xu Yang's immense strength, neither the middle-aged woman nor her maid-like attendant could possibly gain any advantage over him. However, Po Xiao also sensed there was a much larger scheme at play behind this woman.

"I'll be honest with you: quickly abandon that idea. Lord Xu Yang is simply not someone at your level can even hope to look up to. If you truly attempt to use me as bait to lure Lord Xu Yang, then your deaths will only be more miserable."

The middle-aged woman seemed utterly unfazed by Po Xiao's statement, her original intention unchanged. She merely showed a light, flirtatious smile.

"You needn't worry about our fate. Furthermore, according to my assessment, you have underestimated your position in that powerful man's heart. As long as you are by my side, he will undoubtedly enter the dream I have woven for him. Go to sleep now; when you awaken again, you will surely witness the scenario you most desire."

For reasons unknown, Po Xiao found herself completely unable to resist any of the middle-aged woman's suggestions and soon, limply, drifted off to sleep according to her will.

The very moment she finally closed her eyes, a fleeting sense of disappointment actually arose in her mind.

"Will Lord Xu Yang truly appear to save someone as insignificant as me?"

Meanwhile, Xu Yang, guided by the colorful little mushroom, was gradually making his way along this path.

Just as the middle-aged woman and her companion who had found Po Xiao had mentioned, Xu Yang was gradually losing the trail of Long Kun's aura. However, Po Xiao's lingering aura, perhaps due to her greater strength, had become much more distinct.

As they walked, the colorful little mushroom suddenly let out a cheer, appearing very happy. Xu Yang, in turn, expressed his confusion about its behavior.

"What on earth are you so happy about? There's absolutely nothing ahead."

The little mushroom, however, burst into laughter. "For you, any scene without your two teammates is certainly meaningless. But for me, that flower forest ahead is an excellent place, though it's also where the real danger lies. That place contains thousands of flower species, known as the Myriad Flower Forest within the Lost Mountain Range. However, for you human cultivators, it's a true living hell. That's because any single flower there can release an incredibly powerful dream. In other words, that place truly embodies the terrifying meaning of the word 'Lost' in the Lost Mountain Range. No matter how strong you are, if you dare to step into the deepest parts of that Lost Flower Forest and become entangled by endless dreams, you will never be able to leave there alive."

Hearing the little mushroom's explanation, Xu Yang couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, looking at the little creature on his shoulder. "According to what you're saying, the weavers of the dreams behind those flowers must also be plant-based life forms?"

This time, the little mushroom shook its head.

"It's said that the person who planted that flower forest is a very powerful woman, possessing extremely noble bloodline and status. However, as for who that individual truly is, a being of my level will never have the chance to uncover the truth. But this time, by staying with you, if your companion really has been taken into the Myriad Flower Forest, then without a doubt, I'll also have the opportunity to get closer to it. Anyway, you're the one who will ultimately fall into the dreams, not me. As long as I enter with you, I'm sure to find the perfect nutrition for myself. By then, I should also be able to further breakthrough my bloodline strength. If I can manage to awaken my final innate color, I'll have the chance to transform into a true human."

Xu Yang only now fully understood the little mushroom's true objective. However, he was filled with appreciation for the little creature's honest confession, and a playful, knowing smile involuntarily appeared on his face.